3 Held On Fraud Charges Businesses Cheated Out Of Thousands

Three Broward men were arrested on Monday and charged with operating two collection agencies that may have defrauded small businesses out of thousands of dollars.

Arrested were Howard M. Weiss, 47, and F. Dane Delcontivo, 45, both of Sunrise; and James Stevens Lynch, who police said is about 52, of Plantation. A fourth suspect, David Furr, of Davie surrendered earlier and was charged separately. He is free on bail.

Bail for Weiss and Delcontivo was set on Monday at $9,000; Lynch`s bail was set at $16,000.

Police say the men offered, for a fee, to handle civil litigation and other costs to collect debts owed to the businesses they approached. They would receive the fee, collect the debt but keep the money the creditor paid, said Broward Sheriff`s Office Detective Robert Parr.

``It seemed to us to be a very clear pattern of fraud and deception,`` Parr said.

``It`s a very vicious and predatory business,`` said Sunrise Police Detective Ray Meinberg, who, with Parr, conducted a nine-month investigation of the collection agencies.

The suspects operate United Capital Group of Tamarac Inc., also known as Unger, Cole and Gates Inc.; and United Capital Financial Group Inc. in Sunrise, also known as Davis, Walker and Thompson Inc., police said.

All four suspects were charged with organized fraud and multiple counts of grand theft.

Parr and Meinberg said there are a dozen victims who were cheated out of about $23,000 between May 1989 and November 1990.

Among the businesses that used the defendants` services were a plumbing company, a diesel mechanics co-operative, a machine shop, a nursery and a truck broker.

Detectives suspect more businesses were victimized, but did not tell police.